Fuel-feeding mechanism.



PATENTED APR. 28, 1903.

No. 726,664. v

I G. I. 'PILSON. FUEL FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29, 1902.

'2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

Wi ts mama PATENTED APR. 28, 1903. c. I. FILSONQ FUEL FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 29, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

-2 SHEETS- SHEET 2.

FFicE.

ATsENT CHARLES I. F ILSON, OF LEBANON, PENNSYLVANIA.

FUEL-FEEDING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 72 6,664, dated April28, 1903. Application filed November 29, 190-2 Serial No. 133,263. (Nomodel.)

T0 on whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES I. FILSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lebanon, in the county of Lebanon and State of ousdisadvantages found to exist in mechanisms of this class as heretoforeconstructed and to reduce the number of parts andthe expenditure ofdriving power, with a regular feed and more perfect combustionof thefuel.

A further purpose of the improved feeding means is to institute'areliable disposition ofthe fuel within a fire box'or chamber of afurnace under the influence of a blast without loss or partialconsumption.

A further purpose of the improvement is to utilize the heated currentsunder suction from a furnace or boiler to preliminarily temper the fuelbefore it is delivered into the fire box or chamber of afurnace, withobvious advantages in combustion.

A further purpose 'of the improvement is to equalize the injection ordeposit ofthe fuel within a firebox or chamber of a furnace fromopposite delivery sources. 7

With these and otherobjects and advantages in view the inventionconsists in the construction and arrangement of the severalparts whichwill be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional perspective view of a portionof a furnace and boiler, showing the improved fuelfeeding means appliedthereto in operative position and partially broken away. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal vertical section of the initial fuel receiving and feedingmechanism arranged in connection with a part of one of the conduits orpipes leading to the furnace. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section onthe line 3 3', Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section on theline l 4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a de tail transverse vertical section of arose, forming a part of the mechanism to set up a suction in one of theconduits or pipes.

Similar numerals of reference are em ployed .direction. .ues at its rearextremity into a vertical blast pipe or conduit 9, connecting with thefront to indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The numeral 1 designates a furnace, which in the present instance isshown used in connection with a boiler 2; but it will be under* stoodthat the improved feeding mechanism maybe employed with either a furnacealone or with a furnace and boiler. In other words, it is intended toapply the improved feeding mechanism in connection with any device .withwhich it is desired to regularly supply fuel, anditbe organization ofthe furnace or furnace and boiler is not in the least modified to supplythe improved structure, with the exception of a special feed inconnection with the fire box or chamber, which will now be .set forth.

\ wardly'in a horizontal plane and connect with a main supply-pipe 8 ofgreater diameter and from which they branch in opposite lateral The mainsupply-pipe 8 continend of the boiler 2. In each of the conduits orpipes 7 is a suitable valve having an outwardly-projecting stem 10, witha lever 11 secured thereto and also connected to an operating-rod 12,extending upwardly and movably attached to the end of a fulcrumedadjusting-bar 13, secured on the front ofthe furnace. Thisadjusting-bar13 is fulcrumed at its center, so that the opposite extremities thereofmay be equally elevated and depressed. The purpose of this attachment isto equalize the injection or deposit of the fuel in the fire box orchamber in the event that one conduit or pipe 7 has more of the fuelforced therethrough than the other, and when the adjusting-bar 13 is innormal horizontal position, as shown by Fig. l, the valves in theconduits or pipes 7 will be set to provide passages of equal dimensions,and as long as the fuel is feeding equally through both conduits orpipes 7 when the valves are in this condition the adjustingbar 13 willbe permitted to remain in its horizontal arrangement, as shown. If,however, the one conduit or pipe 7 feeds an amount of fuel in excess ofthe other similar conduit or pipe, the one extremity of theadjusting-bar 13 is depressed and the opposite extremity correspondinglyelevated, thereby reducing the passage controlled by the valve on theside at which the adjusting-bar is dopressed and increasing the size ofthe passage controlled bythe valve in the conduit or pipe on the side ofthe furnace where the said adjusting bar extremity is elevated. Thisequalization of feed, through the mechanism just described, can becont-rolled at will to produce a uniformity of injection or supply offuel through both conduits or pipes 7, and hence a practical consumptionof all the fuel in the fire box or chamber will result.

Disposed in front of the furnace is a fuel're ceiving and initialfeeding mechanism, which comprises an elongated cylindrical chamber 14,having a shaft 15 extending therethrough, carrying a double spiral brush16, with the spirals toward the outlet end arranged in close proximity,as at 17. The outer end of the cylindrical chamber 14 is closed, anddepending from the under portion thereof, adjacent to said outer end, isan outlet-pipe 18, having a lower outwardlyturned reduced nozzleextremity 19, located within the main supply-pipe S, as clearly shown byFigs. 1 and 2. On the inner end of the cylindrical chamber 14 amotor-casing is secured and has therein a fan 21, fast on the innerextremity of the shaft 15, the outer edges of the fanblades beingarranged close to the inner periphery of the casing 20. The fan orpneumatic motor 21 comprises blades 22, extending outwardly from acentral hub 23, and it is proposed to secure the blades in such mannerthat they may be uniformly tightened within the hub and capable of beingreplaced in the event of injury thereto or breakage thereof. Connectingwith the upper portion of the motor-casing 21 is a compressed-airfeedingpipe 24, having a vertical member-25 with valves 26 and 27 therein, thesaid vertical member 25 connecting with a supply-pipe 28, running from asuitable compressor located at a distance from the furnace and whichwill be of such construction as that ordinarily employed in connectionwith furnaces. The feeding-pipe 24 delivers the compressedair blastdirectly against the blades of the motor or fan 21, and the exhaust ofthe blastis had through an exhaust-pipe 29, secured to the upper portionof the motor-casing 20 at a point directly opposite to the engagementwith said casing of the feed-pipe 24, the said exhaust-pipe 29continuing outouter end of the cylindrical chamber 14 and connectingwith the outlet-pipe 18 at a point below the attachment of the latter tothe under portion of the outer extremity of said cylindrical chamber.

Connecting with the vertical member 25 of the feed-pipe 24 at a pointbetween the valves 26 and 27 is a primary blast-pipe 30, having a valve31 therein and extending to and through the blast-pipe 9 at a pointadjacent the attachment of the latter to the boiler 2, as clearly shownby Fig. 1. On the end of the pipe 30, within the blast-pipe 9, is ahorizontally-disposed rose 32, which is shown in enlarged sectionaldetail by Fig. 5 and comprises a downwardly-flaring outer shell 32, witha practically closed top 33, havinga depending inverted truncatedconical injector member 34 at the center thereof. This injector member34 has its upper enlarged extremity coinciding with an opening 35 in thetop 33, and the lower reduced end of said member extends into the upperextremity of a central passage 36, open 'at top and bottom and of a formsimilar to that of said member 34. The passage 36 is constructed in aninterior partition-shell 37, similar in general contour to the shell 32,but ofless diameter than the latter to provide flaring passages 38. Theshell 37 is held in operative relation to the shell 32 by dependingbolt-rods 39, which preserve a uniformity of distance or space betweenthe cooperating parts of the two shells. The rose as an entirety is ofslightly less diameter than the interior of the blast-pipe 9, and thepipe 30 connects with the shell 32 at a point below the top thereof, sothat as the air is forced into the rose it passes downwardly through thepassages 36 and 37 and creates a suction through the injector member 34,to thereby draw the heated currentsand unconsumed products of combustioncarried thereby from the boiler downwardly through the rose and drivethe same with a blast effect into the pipe 9 below the rose.

The cylindrical chamber 14, adjacent to the motor-casing 20, has afeed-hopper40 rising therefrom and formed with a surrounding hot-airpassage or chamber 41, the said hopper having inner and outer walls 42and 43, closed at their upper ends, and connecting with the hopper is ahot-air-supply pipe 44, attached to the blast-pipe 9 below the rose 32.Extending transversely across the hopper and attached to diametricallyopposite portions of the inner wall 42 are a series of horizontalhot-air-feeding pipes 45 to provide a tubular heating-grate at about acentral point in the hopper. Connecting with the end of the hopperopposite that to which the pipe 44 is attached is an outlet-pipe 46,which extends down to the main pipe 3, and thus preserves thecirculation of the heated airin the hopper without waste by permittingit to pass into the said pipe 8. In the bottom of the hopper is adeflector 47, consisting of an upwardly in a horizontal plane and fromthe I right body 48, having an inverted conical cap 49, the maximumdiameter of the cap being with the inner extremity of the cylindricalchamber 14 and permit the coal or other fuel to pass downwardly directlyin contact with the brush-spirals under the hopper. It will be obviousthat the deflector 47 is intended,

to prevent choking of the fuel at the base of the hopper and also tomore equally feed the coal or other fuel therefrom into the cylindricalchamber, so that different portions of the brush-spirals will act uponthe coal or fuel and continuously convey or force the same toward theouter endof the said cylindrical chamber. The cylindrical chamber 14 andthe parts carried thereby are supported at a suitable elevation by legs51, which will be attached to the flooring or other base-rest in frontof the furnace.

In the operation of the device coal or other fuel of a kindred nature isplaced in the hopper 40, and the blast is turned on throughthe pipe 24to the motor or fan at the inner end of the cylindrical chamber 14 toset the shaft in motion and operate the brush-spirals to feed the coalor other fuel in the hopper toward the outer end of the cylindricalchamber 14. To start the improved mechanism,

the valve 27 is first partially opened and then the valves 26 and 31,and after the'fuel and: blast enter the furnace in proper proportionsand more fuel and a greater blast are-required the valve 27 is fullyopened or operated to' increase the pressure of the blast and aproportionate increase in the feed of the coal or other fuel. If it isdesired to decrease the blast and fuel-feed, the valve 27 will be op-'erated to regulate such decreased feed, and

after the valves have been properly adjusted "to equalize both the blastand fuel-feed the improved mechanism will operate with but littleattention.

to reopen the said valve. The blast of air feeding through the pipe 24to the motor-Gas ing passes from the said casing through the pipe 29 tothe outlet-pipe 18 and establishes more or less suction in the said pipe18,

which affects the cylindrical chamber 14 to a siderable force and passesforward and then rearward through the pipes or conduits 7and deliveredagainst the opposite upwardly and outwardly inclined'sides of the guard5 and under the said guard. The guard prevents When it is desired tostop. the feed of the fuel, the valve 27 is shut olf or closed, and instarting it is only necessaryv the fuel from being drawn upwardly beforecombustion is efiected and wasted, and the hottest part of the fire bysuch arrangement being always maintained at the center of the fire boxor chamber will institute a thorough consumption of the coal or otherfuel. The heated air-currents carrying the unconsumed products ofcombustion and gases are drawn outwardly through the blast-pipe 9 andfed into the main pipe 8, the valve 31 of the airpipe being opened atthe same time that the valves 26'and 27 are opened to at once arrangethe apparatus in condition for operation throughout all parts of thesame. A portion of the hot air'under pressure is taken from the pipe 9through the pipe 44 and delivered to the chamber 41 of thehopper 40, andfrom said chamber the heated air and gases pass through the pipes 45,and by this means the coal or other fuel deposited in the hopper will beprimarily heated before reaching the cylindrical chamber 14, and theheated air or gases'after thoroughly circulating through the hopper 40are conveyed by the pipe 46 to the lower main pipe 8, and thus thecirculation is unimpaired and the. pressure of the air-blast is notdeteriorated. The coal or other fuel delivered through the pipe 18 tothe main pipe Sis materiallyheated, and the hot air currents and gasescoming through the said pipe 8 and thrown into contact with the coal orother fuel in said pipe further heat'the latter, so that when-it isdelivered in the fire box or chamber it will be in such condition as tofacilitate its thorough combustion." After the improved feedingmechanism is arranged for operation the blast in the pipe 9 can beregulated at will through the medium of the valve 31 in the pipe 30,'andit is preferred that the pipe 30 be ofsmaller diameter than the mainfeed-pipe 24 and its branch 25 and supply connection 28 tointensifytheair-pressure in the blast-pipe 9 without detractingmaterially from the necessary pressure in the pipe 24 in order toregularly rotate the fan ormotor' 21 within the casing 20. The coalpassing between the pipes is thoroughly heated, and

by this means the interior ofthe charge of coal or'other fuel will beregularly tempered or raised in temperature, as well as the outerportion of said charge in contact with the inner wall 42 of the hopper.After the improved fuel-feeding mechanism'starts to "operateit will notbe necessary that close at-' tention be given the same, as there are nomovable parts liable to become disarranged, and after starting theoperation of feeding is practically automatic. From time to time thefireman or other attendant will inspect the fire to see that the fuel isbeing regularly injected under the guard and also to maintain the hopper40 in full condition. When'it is desired that the improvedfeeding'mechanism shall cease operation,'th evalves 26and' 27 areclosed, and thereby cut off the air-blast from the fan or motor 21, aswell as fromthe pipe 9, and by cutting off the blast from the said motorthe shaft 15 will become inactive, and hence the feed of the fuel willstop.

One of the most important advantages of the present construction is thearrangement of the brush-spirals on the outer extremity of the shaft toset up a continuous feed of the fuel into the pipe 18 incontradistinction to an intermittent feed, and a further importantfeature is the utilization of the heated air-currents from the boiler topreliminarily heat the fuel before reaching the fire box or chamber.

In using the device with a furnace alone the pipe 9 may be connected tothe smokefiue in a manner similar to the attachment thereof to theboiler, as shown by Fig. 1.

To accommodate application of the improved fuel-feeding mechanism tofurnaces and boilers varying in size, changes in the proportions,dimensions, and minor details of construction may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1.In a fuel-feeding mechanism, the combination of a furnace having afire-box or combustion-chamber, a guard disposed in the said fire box orchamber above the grate in the latter, feeding-conduits extendingthrough the opposite sides of the furnacein transverse alinement witheach other and with the lower portion of the said guard, and means forforcing fuel through the said feeding-conduits.

2. In a fuel-feeding mechanism, the combination of a furnace having afire box or chamber, a guard disposed in the fire box or chamber abovethe grate in the latter and formed with upwardly and outwardly inclinedsides, fuel-feeding conduits extending through opposite sides of thefurnace in transverse alinement with each other and with the lowerportions of the opposite sides of the guard, and means for forcing thefuel through the said conduits.

3. In a f uel-feeding mechanism, the combination with a furnace, offuel-feeding conduits entering the opposite sides of said furnace andcontinuing into a main pipe, and an initial feeding device having ahopper, said device including a shaft having spiral brushes thereon andan outlet communicating with the said main pipe, a motor connected tothe said shaft, and air-blast-conveying means in operative relation tothe said motor.

4. In a fuel-feeding mechanism, the co mbination with a furnace, of aninitial feeding device consisting of a chamber having a shaft thereinprovided with spiral brushes arranged in close relation adjacent to theoutlet end of the said chamber, the chamber having a hopper thereon, amotor connected to the said shaft, air-blast-conveying means operativelyconnected to the motor, a main pipe into which the outlet-pipe of thechamber extends,

the said main pipe being provided with a hotair-blast pipe mergingthereinto, and fuelfeeding conduits continuing from the main pipe inopposite directions and extending to opposite sides of the furnace.

5. In a fuel-feeding mechanism, the combi nation with a furnace, offuel-feeding pipes passing through opposite sides of the furnace intransverse alinement and continuing from a main pipe having ahot-air-blast branch connected in such manner as to receive the heatedcurrents and gases passing out from the furnace, an initial fuel-feedingdevice having an outlet at one extremity connecting with the main pipeand a motor at the opposite extremity, means for conveying air underpressure to the said motor, an exhaustpipe for the motor connected tothe outlet of the initial fuel-feeding device, and an auxiliaryfeeding-pipe connected to the means for conveying the air under pressureto the motor and extending into the hot-air-blast branch and having adevice thereon for creating a suction in the upper portion of the saidbranch.

6. In mechanism for feeding fuel, the combination with a furnace, offuel-feeding pipes passing through opposite sides of the furnace andconnecting with the main pipe having a hot-air branch attached in suchmanner as to receive heated currents and gases passing ofi from thefurnace, means in said branch for creating a suction to draw the heatedaircurrents and gases ofi from the furnace passing thereinto, an initialfuel-feeding device having an outlet extending into the main pipe, amotor for operating the initial feeding device, means for conveying anair-blast to the said motor, and an exhaust-pipe attached to the motorand to the outlet of the initial fuel-feeding device.

7. In a fuel-feeding mechanism, the combination with a furnace, of aninitial fuel-feed ing device having a chambered hopper at one extremityand an outlet at the opposite extremity, means entering the furnace forconveying the fuel to the latter connecting with the said outlet, ahot-air-conveying pipe attached to the said hopper and the means forconveying the fuel to the furnace, and airblast-conveying pipesconnected to the said conveying means and the hot-air pipe.

8. In a fuel-feeding mechanism, the combination with a furnace, of aninitial fuel-feeding device having a chambered hopper at one extremityand an outlet at the opposite extremity, a fuel-conveying meansconnected to said outlet and entering opposite sides of the furnace, aseries of pipes extending across the interior of the hopper andcommunicating with opposite portions of the chamber in the latter, ahot-air pipe attached to the hopper and with the means for conveying thefuel into the furnace, and air-pressure-conveying pipes connected to thehot-air pipe and the said fuel-conveying means.

9. In a fuel-feeding mechanism, the combination with a furnace, offuel-feeding pipes entering opposite sides of the furnace and Intestimony whereof I affix my signature having valves therein, one ineach pipe, an in presence of two witnesses.

adj usting-bar connected to said valves to simultaneously increase thefeed in one pipe CHARLES FILSON' 5 and decrease it in the other pipe,and-means Witnesses:

for delivering the fuel into andforcing it ADAM-K. WOLF, through thesaid pipes. EBENEZER T. LIGHT.

